Type of Change: New/further knowledge gained
Boundary Level: Community
Summary/Theme: A school student innovates with a smart water pipe cleaner to help decrease the level of water pollution in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Cap-Net Lanka conducted the Aqua Republica Program at the University of Rajarata aiming to provide school children access to a computer-based knowledge management tool for sustainable water management. R.M. Ravindu Oshan Wijesinghe took part in the training as a secondary school student from Anuradhapura district, one of the most rural areas in Sri Lanka. Aqua Republica is a software based on an experiential approach, which showsreal life scenarios in watershed management and their outcomes. Through this program school children can come up with their own solutions to common water problems that they face in their day-to-day lives.
Ravindu was very inspired after completing his Aqua Republica experience, especially tackling water pollution and water conservation measures. He had already witnessed the challenges brought by water contamination which had increased the prevalence of chronic kidney diseases in his community.
Shortly after, a domestic water pipe renovation started near Ravindu’s house, where he was able to observe debris deposits of 1.5 cm thickness inside the water pipes. Concerned by this but motivated by his new water protection knowledge, he developed a concept to produce a smart water pipe cleaner that could clean water pipes using a remote-controlled mechanism. He designed a prototype using robotic technology linked to a software program that operates the cleaner. This tool can support cleaning the water pipes which can decrease the levels of water pollutants and increase the water flow. Ravindu is now in the process of obtaining a patent to register his innovation.
Ravindu affirmed “Aqua Republica allowed me to think differently about water management and compelled me to contribute to solving the problem of water pollution in my community.”
